Method and apparatus for cooling smoking devices

ABSTRACT

A uniquely shaped and sized mold to create specially sized ice cubes. These cubes fit into most gravity type water pipes. The custom shapes of the molds creates ice formations that are tubular with a partial closed end but for an aperture that directs a path for the rising smoke to travel while contacting the maximum surface area of the ice formation. By using one to four ice formations, the user controls the temperature of the rising smoke, understanding that each cube reduces the temperature by nine to eleven percent. In effect, it allows the upper chamber of almost any standard smoking device to be a cooling chamber when these ice formations are inserted.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 63/365,200, filed 24 May 2022, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to smoking devices and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for improving the use of a smoking device.

Smoking using hookahs and similar water pipes dates back many years and continues to this day to be enjoyed by smokers. Water pipes (also known as gravity operated water pipes and commonly referred to by the slang term “bongs”) have the effect of cooling smoke generated by combustion of a combustible substance prior to inhalation, since the generated smoke passes through the water which is typically at ambient temperatures.

In a typical gravity-operated pipe, smoke is first generated in a small bowl located atop a vertical conduit which extends to an enlarged chamber open at the bottom of the pipe. A mouthpiece for inhaling may extend laterally from the conduit. The bowl, conduit, mouthpiece if the latter is used, and the enlarged chamber form a unified movable assembly. The movable assembly is placed in a reservoir partially filled with water. Preferably, the movable assembly is stably supported within the reservoir so that the user need not be obliged to support the movable assembly with two hands.

A combustible substance such as tobacco is placed in the bowl and ignited by a lighter, match or the like. The movable assembly, which has been resting in the water reservoir and is maximally submerged, is then elevated by hand. This generates a partial vacuum within the enlarged chamber. As the movable assembly is progressively elevated, air containing smoke is drawn from the bowl, through the conduit, and into the open headspace within the enlarged chamber. Care is taken not to elevate the bottom of the enlarged chamber above the upper surface of water contained within the reservoir.

At a suitable degree of upward travel, the user places the mouthpiece in his or her mouth, or in the absence of a separate mouthpiece, the bowl is removed from the upper end of the conduit and the exposed upper end of the conduit is place in the mouth as a substitute for the mouthpiece. The mobile assembly is then manually moved downwardly. This imposes pressure on air and smoke contained in the headspace of the enlarged chamber. Pressurized air and smoke are then forced upwardly through the conduit into the mouth of the user. The user may then breathe in the air and smoke.

The above-described cycle may be repeated as desired. Although some people are satisfied with this mode of operation, others feel that cooling the smoke before it is inhaled would enhance the smoking experience. The smoke only cools about 25% using the standard apparatus, and inhaling warm or hot smoke sometimes brings discomfort to the smoker. There remains a need in the art to satisfy this latter group of gravity pipe users.

As can be seen, there is a need for a device that enables a smoker to cool smoke when smoking from a hookah, bong, or similar water pipe.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses the above stated need by providing additional cooling by stacking custom sized ice shapes into the upper portion of the chamber. The unique sizing fits into most standard pipes; specifically, the cooling chamber contains this ice. Air and smoke are generated conventionally but are filtered through ice prior to inhalation.

It is an object of the invention to provide additional cooling to a gravity type water pipe, with the user's choice of variable cooling by using one to four cubes concurrently.

Another object of the invention is to reduce temperatures of air and smoke to levels below those attainable using only the traditional water reservoir of a gravity type pipe.

It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof by and apparatus dimensioned and shaped for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable, and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.

In one aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for creating ice formations for cooling smoke rising through a smoking device, the apparatus includes the following: a mold defining at least one compartment, each compartment comprising: two coaxial sidewalls spaced apart to define a tubular void extending with a uniform cross-section for at least half of a length an outermost sidewall of the two coaxial sidewalls, wherein at least half of a length along an innermost sidewall of the two coaxial sidewalls defines a cavity; and an aperture mass spanning the innermost sidewall of the two coaxial sidewalls so as to define an upper elevation of the cavity, wherein an upper elevation of the aperture mass is greater than an upper elevation of the outermost sidewall, wherein the aperture mass defines a void that interconnects diametrically opposing sides of the tubular void, wherein the aperture mass provides one or more voids having a bottom elevation below upper elevation of the outermost sidewall, wherein the cavity is cylindrical, wherein the tubular void is fluidly decoupled from the cavity, and wherein the mold is made of silicone and has a thickness of approximately three millimeters.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method of cooling rising smoke through a smoking device, the method including: filling with a liquid in a plurality of compartments of the above-disclosed mold to the upper elevation of the outermost sidewall; freezing the liquid in the plurality of compartment so as to form a plurality of ice formations; and placing the plurality of ice formations into an output conduit of the smoking device, wherein the plurality of ice formations defines a stacked arrangement wherein each aperture of each ice formation serially aligns, and wherein each of the plurality of ice formations have an outer diameter that is at least eight percent of an inner diameter of the output conduit.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description, and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-section view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2 .

FIG. 4 is an illustrated flow chart 20 of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an exploded top perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an exploded bottom perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of a smoking device 24 employing the method of the present invention; specifically the stacked arrangement of a plurality of ice formations 26 within an outlet conduit 42 of the smoking device 24, thereby illustrating a snug, substantially coextensive cross-sectional fit of the stacked arrangement and an inner diameter of the outlet conduit 42.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

A general overview of the various features of the invention will be provided, with a detailed description following. Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a mold for freezing water into ice dimensioned and shaped for enabling the ice to fit onto a smoking apparatus such as a bong, waterpipe, or hookah, and whereby the shape of the ice facilitates the cooling and passage of fluid around the ice.

The present invention enables additional cooling of a water pipe by stacking custom sized ice into an upper portion of a smoking chamber. The unique sizing fits into most standard pipes. More specifically, an additional cooling chamber contains this ice. Air and smoke are generated conventionally but are filtered through ice prior to being inhaled. This cools the smoke prior to inhalation. It is an object of the invention to provide additional cooling to a gravity-type pipe. Another object of the invention is to reduce temperatures of air and smoke to levels below those attainable using only the traditional water reservoir of a gravity type pipe. It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof by way of, at least in part, the embodied apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable, and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.

The present invention may comprise a uniquely shaped mold for specially shaped ice. The shaped ice may easily fit into a smoking apparatus.

The mold may be formed by an extrusion process. The mold may be composed of silicone. It may also be composed of non-toxic, freezable material.

The mold may be filled with water and placed in a freezer. The water may then be frozen into ice. The ice may be removed from the mold and inserted into the bong or water pipe.

When ice from the mold is inserted into a pipe of the smoking apparatus, air and smoke within the chamber responsively flow upwardly through a frozen surface area. In some embodiments of the invention one to four pieces of ice are inserted into the pipe. The more ice used, the more surface area the smoke contacts; therefore, lowering the temperature of the smoke evenly. The air and smoke may then be discharged, or inhaled through a discharge port, typically called a mouthpiece.

Dimensions of the ice may be altered to fit into the non-conventional water pipes. However, some embodiments of the present invention fit over 90% of known pipes.

Ice that is a product of a standard ice cube generator in a general-purpose refrigerator/freezer or commercial ice machine does not have a hole to allow maximum surface contact.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited to the disclosed arrangements, but is intended to cover various arrangements which are included within the spirit and scope of the broadest possible interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all modifications and equivalent arrangements which are possible

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 7 , the present invention, in one embodiment, includes a mold 10 to form unique ice formations 26 for rapidly decreasing the temperature of smoke passing through a smoking device 24. Each ice formation 26 provides critical dimensionality and shapes that produces the unexpected results of increasing contact with the passing smoke by way of, in part, the substantial cylindrical recess 30 in each ice formation 26. Each ice formation 26 has a tubular shape with a partial closed end 28 providing an aperture 26A fluidly communicating with the recess 30. Mold 10 comprises a plurality of chambers 16 fillable with water 22. The mold 10 may be a unitary construction of silicone, plasticized material, metallic material, or equivalent material. The Figures depict different designs resulting in a differently shaped piece of ice 26.

Referring to FIG. 3 , the mold 10 may have a tray portion 12 having a top/first surface 12A and an opposing bottom/second surface 12B. Protruding from the second surface 12B are coaxial/concentric spaced apart cylindrical sidewalls 18. The outermost sidewall 18A is spaced apart from the innermost sidewall 18B, defining a tubular volume 19. This tubular volume 19, or more specifically, the inner diameter of the innermost sidewall 18B defines a cavity 29 that is not directly fluidly communicative with the tubular volume 19 defined by the sidewalls 18, thereby resulting in a tubular shaped piece of ice 26 having a partial closed end 28.

An aperture mass 14 may extend from a top elevation of the cavity 29 to above an elevation of the first surface 12A. As a result, when water 22 is filled in the void defined by the sidewalls 18 and the aperture mass 14 there is always an aperture 26A formed the communicates an upper surface of the ice formation 26 to the lumen defined by the cavity 29. The combination of the aperture 26A and the lumen of the ice formation 26A causes rising smoke to pass through the aperture 26A and thus the lumen, thereby contact a greater frozen surface area than if the smoke passed around solid ice formations, thereby lowering the temperature of the smoke evenly and greater than expected. In other words, aperture 26A communicating with the lumen enables maximum surface contact of warm smoke to colder ice.

The shape of the aperture mass 14 can vary, and thus allowing different shaped apertures 26A to be formed. The outer diameter of the outermost sidewalls 18A may be approximately 35.5 millimeters (mm). The cylindrical length of the sidewalls 18 may be approximately 30.4 mm. The diameter of the cavity 29 may be approximately 16 mm, while the cylindrical length of the cavity 29 may be approximately 18 mm. The “rim” 31 of the cavity 29 may taper outward. The thickness of the tray portion 12 may be approximately 3 mm, while having edge lengths approximately 95 mm. The aperture mass 14 may have a diametrical peripheral distance (the distance between opposing edges) that is less than that of diametrical peripheral distance of the innermost sidewall 18B (e.g., if the innermost sidewall 18A defines a cylinder, then its diametrical peripheral distance is its outer diameter), thereby defining setbacks 15, which in turn manifest itself as an aperture 26A with an inner diameter less than said outer diameter established by the innermost sidewall 18A. It being understood that other dimensions are contemplated; for instance, an inner diameter of the outermost sidewall 18B may be adjusted so that the resulting outer diameter of the ice formation 26 is approximately eight percent or greater of an inner diameter of the outer conduit 42 of the smoking device 24. As a result, the stacked arrangement fills substantially the entire volume but for the apertures 26A. As a result, the warm or hot smoke 50 from the combustible substance must traverse the output conduit 42 through a series of apertures 26A of a stacked arrangement of ice formations 26, as illustrated in FIG. 7 . This aperture-driven path of the smoke 50 reduces its ambient temperature by 9-11% for each ice formation it encounters, resulting in cooler smoke 52 be output from the output conduit 52. In other words, the series of apertures 26A formed by the stacked arrangement of snug fitting ice formation 26 allows a user to selectively control and reduce the temperature of smoke 50/52 passing through the smoking device 24.

As used in this application, the term “about” or “approximately” refers to a range of values within plus or minus 10% of the specified number. And the term “substantially” refers to up to 80% or more of an entirety. Recitation of ranges of values herein are not intended to be limiting, referring instead individually to any and all values falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated, and each separate value within such a range is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein.

For purposes of this disclosure, the term “aligned” means parallel, substantially parallel, or forming an angle of less than 35.0 degrees. For purposes of this disclosure, the term “transverse” means perpendicular, substantially perpendicular, or forming an angle between 55.0 and 125.0 degrees. Also, for purposes of this disclosure, the term “length” means the longest dimension of an object. Also, for purposes of this disclosure, the term “width” means the dimension of an object from side to side. For the purposes of this disclosure, the term “above” generally means superjacent, substantially superjacent, or higher than another object although not directly overlying the object. Further, for purposes of this disclosure, the term “mechanical communication” generally refers to components being in direct physical contact with each other or being in indirect physical contact with each other where movement of one component affect the position of the other.

The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (“e.g.,” “such as,” or the like) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the embodiments and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the embodiments or the claims. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any unclaimed element as essential to the practice of the disclosed embodiments.

In the following description, it is understood that terms such as “first,” “second,” “top,” “bottom,” “up,” “down,” and the like, are words of convenience and are not to be construed as limiting terms unless specifically stated to the contrary.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for creating ice formations for cooling smoke rising through a smoking device, the apparatus comprising: a mold defining at least one compartment, each compartment comprising: two coaxial sidewalls spaced apart to define a tubular void extending with a uniform cross-section for at least half of a length an outermost sidewall of the two coaxial sidewalls, wherein at least half of a length along an innermost sidewall of the two coaxial sidewalls defines a cavity; and an aperture mass spanning the innermost sidewall of the two coaxial sidewalls so as to define an upper elevation of the cavity, wherein an upper elevation of the aperture mass is greater than an upper elevation of the outermost sidewall, wherein the aperture mass defines a void that interconnects diametrically opposing sides of the tubular void.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the aperture mass provides one or more voids having a bottom elevation below upper elevation of the outermost sidewall.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cavity is cylindrical.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tubular void is fluidly decoupled from the cavity.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mold is made of silicone and has a thickness of approximately three millimeters.
 6. A method of cooling rising smoke through a smoking device, the method comprising: filling with a liquid in a plurality of compartments of the mold of claim 1 to the upper elevation of the outermost sidewall; freezing the liquid in the plurality of compartment so as to form a plurality of ice formations; and placing the plurality of ice formations into an output conduit of the smoking device.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the plurality of ice formations defines a stacked arrangement wherein each aperture of each ice formation serially aligns.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of ice formations have an outer diameter that is at least eight percent of an inner diameter of the output conduit. 